- HON. ZEBULON PALMER BURDICK, a prominent citizen and farmer
of Rock County,
- residing on section 20, Janesville Township, was born in
Rensselaer County, N.Y., in 1806. He was the fourth in the family
of twelve children born to Joseph and Betsey (SCRIVE) BURDICK,
the former a native of Rhode Island and the latter of Connecticut.
They removed to New York shortly after the close of the Revolutionary
War, and in the Empire State Mr. BURCICK engaged in farming until
1849, when, accompanied by his family, he emigrated to Wisconsin
and purchased land in Rock County. Making that his home until
1852, he then sold out and removed to Janesville Township, where
his death occurred in 1860, at the age of eighty-four years.
His excellent wife died in 1838, at Grafton, Rensselaer Co.,
N.Y. The paternal grandfather of our subject served in the Revolutionary
War, while his father was a captain of the militia. Politically,
the latter was an active supporter of the Democratic party.
His children who came West were: Zebulon P.; Deacon Moses BURDICK,
who was numbered among the early settlers of Rock Township, and
whose death occurred in Janesville; Mrs. Hannah VAN NAME, who
died in 1873; Ziporah married Dr. Israel SMITH. Both are now
deceased.
- The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life, and in
his early years also engaged in lumbering.
- His education was received in the schools of his native State,
after which he studied law, and was admitted to the bar at Troy,
N.Y., in 1832. He then practiced in the surrounding country
for several years. In 1828, while residing in New York, he led
to the marriage altar Miss Amanda M. DEMORAY, who as born near
Troy, N.Y. Two children graced their union: Sullivan R., who
was clerking and studying law, died in Wisconsin in 1850; Rachel
Ann is now the widow of G. L. KNOX; she has one son, Linn E.,
a druggist in Chicago.
- In 1834 the death of the mother occurred, and Mr. BURDICK
was again married in 1838, in
- Grafton, N.Y., his second union being with Philena BROCK.
She was born in that State, and is a daughter of Jonathan and
Anna (SMITH) BROCK, the former a native of New York and the latter
of Rhode Island. Her father learned the trade of a carpenter,
which he followed in connection with farming. His death occurred
in his native State in 1850, and his wife was called to her final
home in 1848.
- Accompanied by his family, Mr. BURDICK emigrated to the West
in 1849, locating in Rock
- County, where he purchased a farm on section 20, Janesville
Township. He is now the owner of 180 acres of fine arable land,
which he manages himself, and which is under a fair state of
cultivation. The two succeeding years after his arrival in this
county he made his home in a little log cabin, which was then
replaced by a more commodious residence. Many improvements he
has added to the farm, which in every department denotes the
thrift and enterprise of the owner. In connection with general
farming, Mr. BURDICK gives some attention to the raising of tobacco
and also handles a good grade of stock. He has been honored
by his fellow-citizens with various official positions. For
fifteen years he has been Chairman of the Board of Supervisors,
and in 1858 was elected a member of the Wisconsin General Assembly.
The following year he held the position of State Senator, to
which he had been elected the previous fall, and again in 1860
held the same office. Ten years later he was again elected to
the State Legislature, this time occupying a seat in the House,
and serving as Representative until 1875. In the various official
positions which he has filled, his course has always been such
as to win the respect of even his political enemies, and his
duties have been discharged with the same promptness and fidelity
which characterized all his undertakings. In 1854 he was elected
the third President of the Agricultural Society, which position
he held for three years. During his early life he supported
the political party known as the Barn Burners, but since 1856
has been a stanch and earnest advocate of the Republican party
and a warm defender of its principles. He is numbered among
the early settlers of the county, has witness almost its entire
growth and development, and ranks as one of the leading citizens.
- Mr. and Mrs. BURDICK are members of the First Methodist Episcopal
Church at Janesville, and
- are the parents of three children, two of whom are living:
Edson A., who is in the employ of the pension department of the
government, is married and resides at Washington; Emma Ophelia
died in 1848, at the age of five years; Emmett E., who resides
in Janesville, is an artist of considerable note. In early life
he displayed much ability in that direction, and his parents
provided him with the best instructions which could be obtained
from noted artists in Chicago. While receiving from his parents
such assistance as they could give, much of his success in life
has been obtained by hard labor and constant application to the
work in hand. He is now engaged in teaching both painting and
etching at Janesville, and does considerable decorative work.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 970-971.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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